Mira Loma High School’s third annual Black Renaissance Day returned bigger than ever

Enthusiasm and celebration filled the quad area of Mira Loma High School on the morning of Feb. 28 as students kicked off the third annual Black Renaissance Day.

Black Renaissance Day is an annual celebration hosted by Mira Loma High School’s Black Student Union (BSU), aligned with Black History Month to honor Black history and culture. 

What began as an after-school Mira Loma block party celebration was transformed into a day-long event for students of all San Juan Unified School District high schools and some local middle schools to Mira Loma. 

“The block party is actually what we had before Black Renaissance Day. It was a celebration,” shared BSU advisor Christina Williams. “We had a big barbeque, music, dancing and now that has grown.”

Mira Loma students expressed their aspiration to honor Black history and culture during the school day, and their teachers listened. Driven by passion and initiative, students built the concept of Black Renaissance Day, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance Era, and have led the celebration for the past three years. 

“We are being heard, I like how they bring us to the forefront especially during Black History Month, which is important to us,” said eleventh-grader and member of the BSU, Gabrielle Clark.

Students were encouraged to engage in the student-led activities by visiting the informational booths. Students showcased topics ranging from notable figures, scientific advancements, fashion and more. Visiting students learned from the volunteering students through a presentation and were rewarded with a candy giveaway for answering trivia questions about the information shared. 

This year, students enhanced the celebration by going above and beyond with inclusivity. Students were encouraged to celebrate all backgrounds of Black culture, including Afro-Latino and Afro-Caribbean. 

“It’s branched out from beyond African and African American and American Black to also African Latino, African Chinese to African Cuban,” shared Williams. “I’ve seen it grow in appreciation for the contributions of Black people all over the world.”

“I think it’s important that we share the history and the culture because it is also part of American history,” expressed tenth-grader Laila Gibson. Gibson ran an informational booth about notable Afro-Latino figures. 

Staff continue supporting and enriching student engagement to celebrate diversity, expressing the importance of representation on campus. With the support and guidance of their teachers, students build real-world skills and create a lasting impact.

“They’re learning very valuable skills, such as learning how to set stuff up, organize and contact people,” said BSU advisor Sara Garzona. “I know that they are taking it into college and other aspects of their lives too.” 

Mira Loma students aspire to keep the annual event ongoing. “We want to keep doing it. I want to come back here in 20 years and be like “yeah I did this,” exclaimed Clark.